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Survey: Drinking on Company Time Extends Beyond St. Patty's Day

The survey, conducted by CareerBuilder.com, finds that one in 10 workers admit to drinking on company time on St. Patrick's Day. But it also finds that one in five workers say they have gone out for an alcoholic beverage during a regular workday at some point in their careers.

Perhaps more troubling, 10 percent of workers reported a more habitual pattern, stating they consume an alcoholic beverage with lunch during the workday at least once a week.

Men reported a higher tendency toward drinking during the workday.

Fourteen percent of men said they have an alcoholic drink with lunch at least once a week, compared to 8 percent of women. Eleven percent of men said they've had an alcoholic beverage on company time on St. Patrick's Day, compared to 8 percent of women.

Thirty percent of men admitted to going out for a drink during a regular workday, compared to 19 percent of women.

Accounting/Finance Workers Led the Way for Drinking on Company Time

Comparing select industries and job functions, IT and government ranked highest in the area of workers drinking during the workday on St. Patrick's Day, with respective amounts of 15 percent and 10 percent.

Accounting/finance led in the category of workers who admit to drinking on company time during a regular workday at 29 percent, followed by 28 percent of IT workers and 24 percent of manufacturing workers.

Sales and hospitality tied for having the highest number of workers who admit to drinking during lunch at least once a week at 14 percent.

Health care and retail workers ranked lowest in all measurements.

CareerBuilder.com's survey "Drinks on the Job," was completed in December 2005 and included more than 2,050 workers representing multiple backgrounds and industries.